Investigators confirm detention of Sakhalin region police chief

KHABAROVSK, March 12. /ITAR-TASS/. Investigators in Russia's Far Eastern Federal District on Wednesday confirmed the detention of Sakhalin region police chief Vladislav Belotserkovsky and his convoying to Khabarovsk.

"Criminal proceedings against Belotserkovsky have been opened over exceeding authority," Sergei Konon, an aide to the director of the regional department of the Investigative Committee (IC) told Itar-Tass.

However, no decision has been taken on his custody. Belotserkovsky is now being questioned by Khabarovsk investigators. The IC declined to tell further details citing "secrecy of investigation."

Belotserkovsky was detained in his office in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk by Federal Security Service agents on March 11. He was appointed to the post of Sakhalinsk region police chief by presidential decree in July 2010. Earlier, he served in the Far Eastern transport police and was head of a criminal police department.

On Wednesday, the Russian Interior Ministry reported that Belotserkovsky had been suspended prior to his detention.